As a direct result of these efforts certain species 

 of gulls and terns, which bad become exceedingly 

 rare over large stretches of country, have rapidly 

 recovered in numbers, and in a few years will doubt- 

 less be as abundant as they were in the old days be- 

 fore the big killing began. 



The phase of warden work that has been fought 

 with the most difficulties has been the attempt to 



guard the few remaining colonies of egrets in the 

 southern swamps. It is absolutely necessary to watch 

 these birds during the breeding season, for otherwise 

 at that time they will be shot for the purpose of get- 

 ting the "aigrette" plumes that adorn the birds only 

 in the nesting period. 



Aigrettes are now worth actually twice their weight 

 in gold, and many men in the southern swamps will 

 undertake almost any risk to kill the birds. Every 

 season attempts are made to raid some of the colon- 

 ies, and the Audubon wardens almost every year have 

 rifle battles with these poachers. Two of our war- 

 dens while in the discharge of their duties have been 

 murdered by plume hunters. 



The writer has recently returned from a trip of 

 inspection to egret rookeries in Florida, and feels tre- 

 mendously encouraged over the evident increase of 

 egrets in the protected regions. There are some egret 

 colonies we have not yet been able to guard, for lack 

 of means. Now, although laws have been passed 

 prohibiting the killing of birds of plumage, and war- 

 dens are stationed at the majority of rookeries, some 

 killing still goes on, and will doubtless continue to go 

 on as long as there is a demand for their feathers. 



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